Receptacle-inverting mechanism.



WITNESS I e. 0. PARKER.

RECEPTACLE INVERTING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED NOV- 26, I915.

Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET l.

G. D. PARKER.

RECEPTACLE INVERTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FiLED NOV. 26 1915.

mwma.

FTg 3 Patented Dec. 26,1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WIT/V588 1 A TTORIVEY$ G. D. PARKER.

RECEPTACLE INVERTING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26. 1915.

1,2W,096.. Patented Dec. 26,1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3'.

' WITNESS w ww @0126 Wm Paten 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

r L x V I 6 c I! l {a v 9 Y WITNESS IMEIFT B By W @1001? AHWWEVS G. D. PARKER.

RECEPTACLE INVERTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26. 1915.

LQIQUQG, Patented Dec. 26,1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

F751 5'. H 7. L j w I ATTORNEYS GEORGE D. PARKER, 0F RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA.

RECEPTACLE-INVERTING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

Application filed November 26, 1915. Serial No. 63,617.

dumping machines, and more particularly.

to a type of apparatus wherein there is employed an elevator of the endless conveyer type for receiving the filled boxes, either singly or in stacks to elevate the same to be acted on by the dumping or inverting mechanism; thus enabling a greater number of boxes to be handled than where a reciprocating conveyer is employed, and providing an apparatus wherein the attendant at the elevator may be dispensed with and the boxes in stacks are positioned by the truckmen within the sphere of the elevator and to be elevated and dumped thereby.

In box elevators and dumpers as at present used, and wherein boxes in stacks are handled, a reciprocating elevator is employed to elevate the stack-to the dumping means.

.In this structure the lowermost box'of each stack is not dumped immediately following tained in its elevated position and before the same is moved into the sphere of the dumping mechanism, it is necessary for the elevator to return to its lowermost position, receive another stack of boxes, the topmost box of this stack contacts with the elevated box of the preceding stack and raises it into the sphere of the dumping mechanism, and in this type of machine the elevator is never clear and owing to its double movement is consequently slow in its operation.

The present invention has for its principal objects to provide an apparatus having an endless elevator whereby the filled boxes may be moved into the path thereof to be engaged thereby, as soon as the elevated stack will clea the top of the next stack to be placed in position, thereby providing a continuous feed of boxes to the dumping mechanism; one provided with means for successively removing the uppermost filled box from the stack and positioning the same within the sphere of the dumping or inverting mechanism and to be acted on thereby, and one which is simple in construction, has an increased capacity over similar devices now on the market, and one which may be manufactured at little cost.

'While my. present apparatus is designed for use in packing houses for elevating and dumping the boxes containing the fruit to be treated and packed, it is to be understood that the same may be utilized wherever a receptacle elevator and dumper is necessary and may be constructed to elevate the receptacles to various heights.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination-of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within thescope of the claims may be for removing the uppermost box of the stack and positioning the same in cooperation with the dumping mechanism. Fig. 2 is a View in side elevation, disclosing more fully the operating means for the various parts of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrows, disclosing more fully the mechanism for engaging the. uppermost elevated box and for positioning the same within the sphere of the dumping or inverting mechanism. Fig. 4 is a sectionalview taken on line 4- 4 of Fig. 1, disclosing more fully the endless elevator, the dumping mechanism carrying the box engaging pins, the belt for receiving the dumped fruit, and the runway for conveying the empty box from the apparatus. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic View in side elevation of the apparatus, disclosing anumber of boxes and the cycle of operation of the apparatus in dumping the contents therefrom. Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 1, disclosing more fully the elevator and the box guides. Fig. 7 is a view in detail of one of the box supporting pins carried by the end flanges ordisks of the inverting mechanism.

'In the drawings, 1 and 1 indicate suitable frame uprights or standards resting on a base 2 and preferably extending upwardly through a loading station or floor 3, and carrying at their upper ends the top frame members 4, the front uprights 1 be g rear-' wardly inclined, as in the drawings. Front and rear-uprights 1 and 1 are connected by braces 5, and braces 6 connect the front uprights 1.

To clearly set forth the elements and operation of the elevator-and dumper or inverting mechanism, the endless elevator will first be described, and the same i'ncludes suitable parallel spaced upwardly disposed side guides 7 secured to the braces 5 and extending'from a point-below the floor or loading platform 3 to a point adjacent the dumping or inverting means hereinafter described. Parallel spaced end guides 8 are Secured to the braces 5 at the outer sides of ftents therefrom, and the same comprises a same comprise the'supporting rods or shafts 12 fulcrumed at their ends in the chains 11 and connecting the same. At the opposite ends of said members 12 are carried the rectangular brackets 13 connected at their upper outer ends by the bar 14. The brackets carry on their lower end the rollers 15, which, on the upward movement of the platforms contact with the guide rails 16 -carried by the braces 6 and extending upwardly between the side guides 7 and which terminate at their upper ends inthe inwardly curved portions .17 which maintain the platforms A substantially horizontal wvhen in their highest elevated position. The

lower ends 18 of the guide rails 16 are inwardly curved so as to properly receive the v rollers 15 when the lower ends of the brackets are unsupported. On the downward movement of the platforms the rollers .15 operate over guide rails 19, Fig. 4, over the top edges .0 which extend the upper ends of the side guides 7. The upper shafts 9 each carry a large sprocket 20 on which operates a chain 21 driven by a sprocket 22 carried by a shaft 23 mounted in bearings carried by the braces 5.

A suitable I box inverting or dumping mechanism is carried at the upper portion of the supporting frame above and to the rear of the stack elevator to'successively receive the topmost box of the stack and graduallyinvert the same to'dump the consupporting shaft 24 extending transversely of the-top frame'members 4 and j ournaled in bearings 25' carried thereby. Keyed to rotate with the shaft 24 are the spaced circular end disks or members 26 of a dumping drum, and said disks are of a su'flicient diameter and=so arranged so as to overlap the elevator, and are positioned one on each outer side of the elevating chains 11. The peripheral edges of the disks are formed with teeth and over the same operate drive chains 28 carried by sprockets 29 mounted on the shaft 23. A belt or runway 30 for receiving" the fruit as dumped from the boxes extends over a drum or roller 31 loosely mounted on the shaft 24 between the members 26 and is inclined downwardly toward therear of the frame where it operates over a drum 3'2 keyed to rotate with a power shaft 33 which is driven in the direction of the arrow by any suitable power, transmitted to the band wheel 34. Parallel spaced tracks or guides 31 for receiving the inverted boxes extend" longitudinally over the side edges of the belt 30 from a point centrally ofthe drum 31, and are beveled as at 32" at their front end and are downwardly inclined toward frame to convey the empty boxes from the inverting mechanism to any suitable place of deposit. 7

The shaft 23 carries a largesprocket 35,

. and the same receives its power through a chain 36 operating on a sprocketv carried by a shaft 37 which is in 'turn driven by a chain 38 operating over a sprocket 39 loosely carried by the power shaft 33. A clutch dog 40 is keyed to rotate with the shaft 33 and with the same is adapted to intermesh a dog 41 rotatable with the sprocket 39 and movable laterally relatively thereto into and out of engagement with'the clutch dog 40. A

moving the same relatively to the dog 40.

A mechanism is employed for moving the uppermost box when the same is raised to its highest position bythe elevator into operative relation with the inverting mechanism, and the same comprises the side frame members 44, slidably mounted in guides 45 fu-lcrumed adjacent their inner ends as at 46 to the top frame members 5 in advance of the shaft 24, and exteriorly of the disks or members '26. A bar 47 is adjustably united at its vopposite ends, as at'47., to the outer ends of the members 44 and carries a roller 48 which extends transversely of the elevatheights. At timed intervals the roller conthe rear of the.

- controlling handle or lever 42, pivoted as at 43, cooperates with the dog 41 and assists in mechanism and inverting mechanism.

tacts with the outer face of the highest elevated box to drawthe same into cooperative relation vwith the inverting mechanism. The rear ends of the members 44 are pivotally connected by links 49 with the long members of crank arms 50 fulcrumed in brackets 51 carried by the braces 5. The

short members of the crank arms carry lobe cam 56, carried by the shaft 24.

The cams 54 and 56 are timed to operate in such a way as to raise the outer ends of the guides 45 as the engaging frame is projected outwardly, thence to permit the outer ends of the guides to lower with the engaging frame over the topmost box as the same is elevated to its highest position, and while in this position to engage the outer lower edge of the box and draw the frame inwardly carrying the topmost box from the stack into the path of the inverting mecha-. nism. The filled boxes as successively removed from the elevator are caused to-slide on and are supported by the upper ends of the guides 7 until between the disks or end members 26 of the inverting mechanism, at which time the lifting pins or fingers 57, slidably mounted in apertures adjacent the peripheral edges of the disks or end members, are forced inwardly by the cam tracks 53 carried by the frame and which operate in the grooved ends of the pins or fingers and engage beneath the under outer edge of the boxes.

When first received in the inverting mechanism the inner lower edge of the boxes I contact with the pins or fingers 59 projectmembers 26 are rotated and the boxes gradually assume an'inverted position with the upper inner edges thereof in contact with the forward end of the guides 31', the contour of the cam tracks 58 successively withdraws the lifting pins or fingers 57 from under the bottom of the boxes and permits the same to pass beyond the boxes, as in Fig. 5. The boxes are now supported by the pins or fingers 59 until the rotation of the disks or end members causes the pins or fingers 60, which are. approximately on a radial line with the pins 59, to engage under the lower corners of the boxes and complete, the dumping of the contents therefrom,- and cause the boxes to assume an inverted position on the tracks or guides 31. The rotation of the disks 26 causes the pins 60 to pass downwardly over one side of the boxes when the same are inverted on the tracks 31, and move or push the same beyond the path thereof rearwardly on the tracks or guides 31. Successively inverted boxes propel the previously inverted boxes longitudinally of the guides or tracks 31 until the same are discharged therefrom. Grooves 61 and 62 are provided in the outer side edges of the tracks or guides 31 for the passage of the respective pins or fingers 59 and 60. y

I have provided a box elevator and dumper which comprises three essential elements, all operating in timed relation with each other, and they include an endless traveling elevator for raising either a single box or a stack of boxes, an inverting mechanism of the rotating type which receives the filled box and gradually inverts the same, dumping the contents therefrom onto one conveyer and depositing the dumped box onto suitable conveying tracks or rails, and a mechanism for removing thetop box from the conveyer or stack of boxes and for posil 1 tioning the same withln the sphere or in cooperative relation with the inverting mechanlsm. 1

It will be noted that the elevator is of the endless type and during the operation .of the apparatus travels continuously in the elevator into the sphere of the invertingmechanism.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim asnew and desire to protect byLetters Patent is 1. An apparatus for the described pur-' pose comprising an endless elevator for receiving and elevating filled receptacles. an

inverting mechanism without the path of the elevated receptacles for receiving the filled receptacles from the elevating means and inverting the same to dump their contents therefrom, and means operating in timed relation with the elevating and'the inverting mechanism for removing the uppermost receptacle from the elevator and placing the same within the sphere of the inverting mechanism.

- 2. An apparatus for the described purpose comprising an endless elevator for receiving and elevating filled receptacles, an inverting mechanism without the path of the elevated receptacles for receiving filled receptacles from the elevating means and inverting the same to dump the contents therefrom, means operating in timed relation with the elevator and the inverting the apparatus.

mechanism.

mechanism for removing the uppermost receptacle from the elevator and placing the same within the sphere of the inverting mechanism, means for conveying the inverted receptacles from the apparatus, and means for receiving the contents as dumped therefrom and for conveying the same from 3. An apparatus for the described purpose comprising an endless elevator for receiving and elevating filled receptacles, an inverting mechanism without the path of the elevated .receptacles for receiving the.

filled receptacles from the elevating means and inverting the same to dump the contents therefrom, and reciprocating means operating in timed relation with the elevating and theinverting mechanisnr for engaging and moving the uppermost elevated receptacle within the sphere of the inverting ing thefilled receptacles from the elevating means and inverting the same to dump the contents therefrom, and reciprocating means movable within the path of the receptacle elevating and operating in timed relation with the elevator and the inverting mechanism for engaging and moving the uppermost elevated receptacle to within the sphere of the inverting mechanism. I

5. An apparatus for the described purpose comprising a rotary receptacle inverting mechanism for receiving filled receptacles and inverting the same to dump the contents therefrom, horizontally reciprocat ing means operating in timed relation with the rotary inverting mechanism for engaging a' receptacle and moving the same into the sphere of the inverting mechanisnnand upwardly movable means for positioning receptacles to be successively engagedby the receptacle moving means.

6. An apparatus for the described purpose comprising a receptacle inverting mechanism for receiving filled receptacles and inverting the same to dump the contents therefrom, substantially horizontally moving means operating in timed relation therewith for engaging and moving a receptacle therefrom to a point within the sphere of the inverting mechanism to beacted on thereby, and timely operated upwardly moving means for positioning receptacles to be successively engaged .by the receptacle moving means. I

7. An apparatus for the described purpose comprising a receptacle inverting .mechanism for receiving filled receptacles and inverting the same to dump the contents there:

from, means operating in timed relation therewith for engaging andjmoving a receptacle within the sphere" of the inverting mechanism to be acted on thereby, timely operated continuously moving endless means for positioning receptacles to be successively engaged by the receptacle moving means, means for recei ing the contents dumped from .the invert d receptacles, and means on which the inverted receptacles are conveyed from the apparatus.

8. An apparatus for the described purpose comprising a receptacle inverting mechanism for receiving filled receptacles and inverting the same to dump the contents therefrom, means" operating in timed relation therewith for engaging and moving a receptacle within the sphere of the inverting mechanism, and timely operated continuously moving endless means for positioning receptacles to be successively engaged by'the receptacle moving means.

9. An apparatus for the described purose \com risin a rece tacleinvertin I mechanism for receiving filled receptacles and inverting the same to dump the contents therefrom, an endless conveyor for moving filled boxes in position adjacent to said in verting mechanism, and timely operated reciprocating means for engagingnthe positioned receptacles and moving the same to be acted on by the inverting mechanism.

10..An apparatus for the described pur-' pose, comprising a receptacle .inverting mechanism for receiving filled receptacles and inverting the same to dump the contents therefrom, an endless conveyor for moving filled boxes in position adjacent to said inverting mechanism, and a reciprocatingopen frame operated in timed relation relative to said inverting mechanism and movable in a substantially oval path. for. positioning over the positioned receptacles and moving the same toward the inverting mechanism to'be acted on thereby.

11. An apparatus for. recelving iilled receptacles and dumping the contents therefrom, the same comprising a rotary member for receiving, supporting and turning the receptacle to empty the contents therefrom, and horizontally reciprocating means coacting in timed relation therewith for moving receptacles successively within the sphere of the said rotatable dumping means.

12. An apparatus for receiving filledreceplid tacles and dumping the contents therefrom, the same comprising a rotatably mounted member for receiving and supporting the receptacle and during the movement of which the rece tacle, is turned to empty the contents there rom, and horizontally moving means coacting mtimed relation therewith for moving receptacles successively within the sphere of' the said rotatable dumping means.

13. -,An apparatus for the describedpurpose comprising a receptacle elevator and a re- In testimony whereof I have signed my ceptacle inverting mechanism associated name to this specification in the presence of 10 therewith and without the p a'flithereof, and two subscribing Witnesses.

means for moving the recefitacles from the v elevator into the sphere of the inverting GEORGE R mechanism, the elevator, inverting mecha- Witnesses: nism 'and receptacle moving means being HARRY A. Town,

operated in timed relation with each other. D. B}. RICHARDS. 

